SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The Master’s College Department of Athletics took time away from the rigors of competition and practice this month to take part in TMC’s annual Outreach Week.

As an extension of the office of Multicultural Student Advancement, Outreach Week is a campus-wide effort of The Master’s College to serve in and learn from churches and ministries throughout Southern California. Each year TMC cancels classes for three days in order to mobilize approximately 650 student volunteers to serve with local churches ranging from cross-cultural and urban to homeless and prison outreach.

For several TMC atheltic teams, Outreach Week was very much a local community affair.

The baseball team hosted two games against nearby junior colleges. After each contest, players and coaches invited opposing players to learn more about what it means to be an athlete at TMC. Senior infielder Spencer Downs shared how his relationship with Christ changed his life.

“I enjoyed being able to scrimmage someone other than ourselves,” he said. “The rain & lightning delay in the first game turned into fun entertainment and back and forth jokes from both teams. But my favorite aspect of outreach week was being able to use the talents that God has given us to share the gospel message with unbelievers.”

Members of the Lady Mustangs soccer team traveled to the House of Hope in Palmdale for their outreach week project. The team served by painting the facility, maintaining the garden, cleaning around the property and tutoring some of the children the house serves.

Women’s volleyball conducted a skills clinic for Golden Valley High School. Coach Bobby Blanken and his squad looked for ways to encourage the Grizzlies both in volleyball and in life skills. The Mustangs also volunteered in the Walk for Life on Oct. 20.

The men's soccer team visited Peachland Elementary School to spend time with students and play with the kids during recess.

“We’re trying to be an example to the students and expose them to the college. We had a blast, and the kids loved it too,” said Mustang Coach Jim Rickard.

Cross country made it a goal to visit all the local high school cross country practices and share with them about the TMC running program.

“It’s pretty exciting because the recent success of our team has given us a platform to reach into the local high school teams. Coaches have been very receptive to having us out,” said assistant coach Amie Schroeder.

The team also hosted a question-and-answer session and provided gifts to each student in attendance. The team and coaching staff used the opportunity to share their stories and talk about what it’s like to be a collegiate athlete at TMC.

Men’s basketball served in neighboring Placerita Canyon by taking part in cleanup activities. This season, the team looks to continue their relationship with the Special Olympics organization and the Castaic Sports Complex by hosting developmental basketball clinics.

The men’s golf team helped out at the Sunshine Senior Living Center in Valencia. The team played games and interacted with some of the residents in the afternoon. Later, the squad helped serve dinner.

The women's basketball team visited the SCV Senior Center, where the squad hand delivered 13 gift-wrapped baskets, then spenmt the morning serving, singing and spending time with the SCV seniors. This was the beginning of monthly planned trips to the center. The Mustangs also look forward to seeing this group at their games; they are providing season tickets for the center.

College officials were pleased with the success of Outreach Week 2012.

“Outreach is a large part of who we are as a college,” said TMC provost Mark Tatlock. “Serving others within our community is one way we can demonstrate the love of Christ and also help cultivate a lifestyle of service within our students. It's something we do throughout the year, really, in little ways. But the week is special because our students mobilize in large groups. It's an opportunity to make a real impact.”